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Wheaton North, WWS boys golfers set sights on state tournaments

Aug. 22, 2014

Shaw Media file photo

Caption

Wheaton Warrenville South's Will Kelly chips from the fringe during the regional tournament last season. Kelly is one of several players that returns from a team that finished 11th in the state last year.

The boys golf season has already teed off and teams are hoping to make the trek Oct. 17 and 18 to Bloomington and Normal for the Class 1A, 2A and 3A state tournaments. Here’s the outlook for teams from the area.

St. Francis Spartans

Coach: Greg Baresel

Top players

Connor Buckley, junior

Sean Doherty, senior

Pat Mochel, senior

Jonathan Nocek, junior

Outlook: St. Francis is coming off an outstanding 2013 that saw the Spartans qualify for the state tournament for the first time in program history and finished eighth in Class 2A.

The Spartans bring back two of their top three golfers from state in Jonathan Nocek and Connor Buckley. Sean Doherty and Pat Mochel also return.

“We are looking to continue the success we had last year and make it back to state,” head coach Greg Baresel said. “With four returning players from the state team and having a good core group of players, we should be ready to compete with the best this year.”

West Chicago Wildcats

Coach: Neal Golyshko

Conference: Upstate Eight

Top players

Ryan Hancock, junior

Mike Miller, senior

Outlook: Last fall will be remembered for West Chicago winning the conference tournament title (Valley Division) in its first year in the Upstate Eight Conference.

This time around, the Wildcats will be a less experienced team after the graduation of eight seniors, including Ryan Orr, Nick Tomei and sectional qualifier Dino Parducci. Senior Mike Miller and junior Ryan Hancock are returning contributors from 2013.

“This will be a rebuilding year,” head coach Neal Golyshko said. “I’m really looking for some talent to step up from the freshmen and sophomores this year. Last year we were new to the Upstate Eight and the Valley Division. Now we’re over in the River Division with some pretty big powerhouses in St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia.”

Wheaton Academy Warriors

Coach: Scott Broman

Conference: Metro Suburban

Top players

Kyle Bertsche, sophomore

Carter Bruntjen, junior

Grant Gosden, junior

Zack Spear, senior

Outlook: Optimism is high within the program with the team returning a pair of state qualifiers in Zack Spear and Grant Gosden.

With that duo leading the way, Wheaton Academy will look to improve on its fourth-place regional finish, which kept the squad from advancing to the sectional by one spot. The Warriors also are competing in the Metro Suburban Conference for the first time.

“We are looking forward to this season,” head coach Scott Broman said, “because our two state qualifiers, Zack Spear and Grant Gosden, are back with the team and playing very well, and the rest of the team is looking forward to playing their best to help us achieve our goals.”

Wheaton North Falcons

Coach: Michael Pribaz

Conference: DuPage Valley

Top players

Zach Gerry, sophomore

Ben Shadid, senior

Michael Suazo, senior

Caleb Weise, senior

Matt Winkelmann, senior

Charlie Vasbinder, senior

Outlook: Wheaton North returns an experienced and talented team this fall after winning the DVC title for the first time in 20 years in 2013. Co-conference Player of the Year Michael Suazo returns as does fellow all-conference selections Ben Shadid, Charlie Vasbinder and Caleb Weise.

“Our main strength is our experience,” head coach Michael Pribaz said. “All of the guys coming back this season were part of that hard-fought DVC title and have that to feed off of.

“However, that was last year and we haven’t accomplished anything yet this year. We need to take every shot, every hole and every match one at a time and stay focused on our goals. We want to defend our title and advance out of a regional and see what happens from there.”

Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers

Coach: James Selleck

Conference: DuPage Valley

Top players

Bailey Dahlquist, senior

Tommy Dale, senior

Ryan Forrest, senior

Will Kelly, senior

Brian McCaffrey, junior

Sean McCaffrey, junior

Outlook: South is coming off a strong 2013 campaign that saw the Tigers finish third in conference and the regional before a second-place showing at the Naperville Central sectional sent the team to state.

WWS returns five of its top six from that group that finished 11th in Class 3A, including senior Will Kelly, who was the sectional medalist last fall. Bailey Dahlquist was the team’s top finisher at state followed by Brian McCaffrey and Kelly.

The boys golf season has already teed off and teams are hoping to make the trek Oct. 17 and 18 to Bloomington and Normal for the Class 1A, 2A and 3A state tournaments. Here’s the outlook for teams from the area.

St. Francis Spartans

Coach: Greg Baresel

Top players Year

Connor Buckley Junior

Sean Doherty Senior

Pat Mochel Senior

Jonathan Nocek Junior

Outlook: St. Francis is coming off an outstanding 2013 that saw the Spartans qualify for the state tournament for the first time in program history and finished eighth in Class 2A.

The Spartans bring back two of their top three golfers from state in Jonathan Nocek and Connor Buckley. Sean Doherty and Pat Mochel also return.

“We are looking to continue the success we had last year and make it back to state,” head coach Greg Baresel said. “With four returning players from the state team and having a good core group of players, we should be ready to compete with the best this year.”

West Chicago Wildcats

Coach: Neal Golyshko

Conference: Upstate Eight

Top players Year

Ryan Hancock Junior

Mike Miller Senior

Outlook: Last fall will be remembered for West Chicago winning the conference tournament title (Valley Division) in its first year in the Upstate Eight Conference.

This time around, the Wildcats will be a less experienced team after the graduation of eight seniors, including Ryan Orr, Nick Tomei and sectional qualifier Dino Parducci. Senior Mike Miller and junior Ryan Hancock are returning contributors from 2013.

“This will be a rebuilding year,” head coach Neal Golyshko said. “I’m really looking for some talent to step up from the freshmen and sophomores this year. Last year we were new to the Upstate Eight and the Valley Division. Now we’re over in the River Division with some pretty big powerhouses in St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia.”

Wheaton Academy
Warriors

Coach: Scott Broman

Conference: Metro Suburban

Top players Year

Kyle Bertsche Sophomore

Carter Bruntjen Junior

Grant Gosden Junior

Zack Spear Senior

Outlook: Optimism is high within the program with the team returning a pair of state qualifiers in Zack Spear and Grant Gosden.

With that duo leading the way, Wheaton Academy will look to improve on its fourth-place regional finish, which kept the squad from advancing to the sectional by one spot. The Warriors also are competing in the Metro Suburban Conference for the first time.

“We are looking forward to this season,” head coach Scott Broman said, “because our two state qualifiers, Zack Spear and Grant Gosden, are back with the team and playing very well, and the rest of the team is looking forward to playing their best to help us achieve our goals.”

Wheaton North Falcons

Coach: Michael Pribaz

Conference: DuPage Valley

Top players Year

Zach Gerry Sophomore

Ben Shadid Senior

Michael Suazo Senior

Caleb Weise Senior

Matt Winkelmann Senior

Charlie Vasbinder Senior

Outlook: Wheaton North returns an experienced and talented team this fall after winning the DVC title for the first time in 20 years in 2013. Co-conference Player of the Year Michael Suazo returns as does fellow all-conference selections Ben Shadid, Charlie Vasbinder and Caleb Weise.

“Our main strength is our experience,” head coach Michael Pribaz said. “All of the guys coming back this season were part of that hard-fought DVC title and have that to feed off of.

“However, that was last year and we haven’t accomplished anything yet this year. We need to take every shot, every hole and every match one at a time and stay focused on our goals. We want to defend our title and advance out of a regional and see what happens from there.”

Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers

Coach: James Selleck

Conference: DuPage Valley

Top players Year

Bailey Dahlquist Senior

Tommy Dale Senior

Ryan Forrest Senior

Will Kelly Senior

Brian McCaffrey Junior

Sean McCaffrey Junior

Outlook: South is coming off a strong 2013 campaign that saw the Tigers finish third in conference and the regional before a second-place showing at the Naperville Central sectional sent the team to state.

WWS returns five of its top six from that group that finished 11th in Class 3A, including senior Will Kelly, who was the sectional medalist last fall. Bailey Dahlquist was the team’s top finisher at state followed by Brian McCaffrey and Kelly.

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